Since that game, McGahee has seized the starting job and is leading the team in rushing. He is considered a significant challenge for the Jets' eighth-ranked run defense when the teams meet again Sunday in Orchard Park, N.Y.

McGahee has provided a spark to a struggling team; Buffalo's only two victories have come in games he has started. In Sunday's 38-14 victory over Arizona, McGahee scored the Bills' first two rushing touchdowns of the season.

Since McGahee replaced the injured Henry on Oct. 17 -- Henry returned as the starter in a loss to Baltimore the next week before yielding the job to McGahee against Arizona -- the Bills' running offense has risen to 21st from 25th.

Coach Mike Mularkey, who promoted the 6-foot, 228-pound McGahee last week to get more from the running game, said the move could be permanent if McGahee continues his solid play.

"He's started and he's been productive," Mularkey said Wednesday during a conference call. "They both have been told the same thing: we're going to go with who we feel is the most productive right now, with the other guy getting as many reps trying to get him into the game at some point."

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McGahee, who reportedly asked to be traded earlier this season if he were not used more, said he was comfortable with that role.

"It was a pretty good feeling for me to go out there and turn the game around for the team," McGahee said Wednesday. "Just to go out there and help get a win for the team because we really needed one."

McGahee's success might be even more satisfying because of the progress he has made since tearing three ligaments -- the anterior cruciate ligament, the medial collateral ligament and the posterior cruciate ligament -- in his left knee in his final game for the University of Miami in January 2003.

"I'm back," McGahee said. "I'm probably even better than I was. I get better and better every game."

McGahee's improvement has not been lost on Donnie Henderson, the Jets' defensive coordinator, who said there was a crucial difference between the Bills' current starter and their former one.

"Breakaway speed," Henderson said of McGahee. "He can go the distance, he's a little bit bigger and stronger and faster than the other guy.

"And I'll tell you what he does: he can run downhill. The other guy was more of a slasher and cutter. This guy will run downhill. I know the guys from Miami have a passion for the end zone and the way they run the football. We've just got to keep it in front."

EXTRA POINTS

DONNIE HENDERSON said it was unclear whether middle linebacker Sam Cowart would return to the starting role once he recovers from an injured ligament in his left knee. "I'm not big on who gets their name announced" -- in pregame introductions as the starter -- "I care about who plays in the game," Henderson said. Henderson said that Cowart, who is listed as probable for Buffalo, would probably be phased into the lineup as part of a three-player rotation at middle and weakside linebacker with Jonathan Vilma and Eric Barton. "When he comes back, I'm going to slowly put him in there so he and Vilma are in there at the same time," Henderson said. "I'm going to integrate him in there slowly. He might get 10-15 snaps a game." Vilma, the Jets' first-round pick, has been impressive as Cowart's replacement, making five starts this season while recording 42 tackles -- second most on the team -- a sack and an interception.